Fiat Lux

Bob Herbert’s column today, and the multi-part NY Times series on class in America, is pretty depresing stuff. But Jesse over at Pandagon said something in response that ought to be emphasized:

There’s no problem with the people who run the company earning more money. There’s a problem when we set up an economy where they reap all the benefits for the company they run, as if everyone under them is simply a token functionary who adds nothing to the company’s success.

There’s a larger point to be made here about the whole issue of how the work world has changed in the past few decades but I’m strugling with the words for it.

In what bizarro world is this proposal indecent?

Only women over age 35 or 40 be allowed to drive and only in cities. On highways, he said, they could drive if accompanied by male guardians.

Saudi Arabia, of course! Women are banned from driving in Saudi Arabia, and a Saudi councilman Mohammad al-Zulfa has recently suggested easing the ban to allow some women to drive some of the time. But the thought that women might actually be allowed to do anything for themselves in Saudi Arabia is just too scary. What happened?

Al-Zulfa put the proposal in writing and sent it to the council’s presidency so it can appoint a date for discussing it. But apparently worried about the conservatives’ reaction, council head, Sheik Saleh bin Humaid, has not responded.

Typical.

On this Memorial Day, Musing’s Musings says it better than I could.

Yes, I think the War on Terra was a big fuckin’ mistake, and that the people who started it are criminals who should be in the dock in the Hague. My bet is that quite a few of the guys and gals fighting in the war feel the same way I do. But because the people running the country into the ground are misguided Republican asshole extremists doesn’t mean I don’t think that our fighting men and women aren’t worthy of support.

Our troops should get 100% of everything they need to do the jobs we give them to do. We shouldn’t be sending them into harm’s way unless there’s absolutely nothing else for it, but when we do, no matter what the pretext or the evidence, they should absolutely go into combat with all the guns and ammunition and armor (body and otherwise) they need to do what they have to do with a minimum of casualties. Nobody who signs on the dotted line to put his or her body between us on the home front and the people who are trying their best to destroy us should not have to be worrying about whether his/her family back home is going to be able to make ends meet. No military family should ever have to take food stamps or go on welfare because one or more members is in the service. And when the war’s over, no serviceman or -woman should have to wonder if there will be health care available to take care of his/her needs, support for easing back into a normal routine or into civilian life. For those that don’t come home in one piece, or, God forbid, don’t come back at all, there should be no question that their needs will be met and their loved ones cared for–justly and fairly.

Indeed.

A 2.5 quake doesn’t harm much, but when the epicenter is only about 3 miles awy from you, you sit up from the couch you’ve collpased onto and take notice.

Gimi was parked next to me on the couch and it disturbed him. I think this may have been his first ‘real’ earthquake.

And an earthquake of another sort from Europe: As expected, France votes “No“.